Non-Potsdam residents can’t understand

To the Editor:

In response to “Spending is too high in Potsdam village,” nothing is more likely to arouse anger in a Potsdam resident than to hear criticism of our government from non-residents living far outside our boundaries. Such was the case, however, in the last edition of this paper by someone who used “Parishville/Potsdam” to end his letter.

It turns out, as might be expected, that the gentleman is a resident living far outside our boundaries, but who owns property inside the village, probably student rentals, and he objects to our village codes and law enforcement.

But he went even further by attacking the code enforcement folks, even their secretary, the police, etc. and he actually wanted to reduce the number of all of them. Evidently they are getting in his way. So let’s see, he sits out there in countryside splendor while the village is in the process of currently welcoming the arrival of some 8,000 college students. And he wants no government, no restrictions, no nothing? Did he ever go downtown on a Friday or Saturday night, or maybe up Main or Market Streets? It is an education unto itself.

As a village resident, I would suggest something quite different. We should add, not subtract, from a fine police force that is already stretched to the limit, and add even more code officers to live by codes that have always been there but never fully enforced until right now.

I have nothing but praise for Mayor Yurgardis; the Village Trustees; the Code Enforcement Officers; and the Village Police for all that they are doing to make Potsdam a better and safer place to live. Keep up the good work.